What’s in It for Me?

“At this, the guardian-redeemer said, ‘Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.”

Ruth 4:6

Have you ever lost an opportunity because you were trying your best to protect yourself? I don't know about you, but I have missed many chances for the sake of self-preservation. I regret some of these instances, and others I thank God He stepped in to save me from disaster. To grow as Christ’s disciples, we need to distinguish when and how we succumb to self-preservation.

The story of Ruth makes it clear that Boaz was not the first kinsman-redeemer. He did the right thing to defer this opportunity to redeem Elimelech’s estate to the rightful man. However, the unnamed “guardian-redeemer” had an excuse for why he could not fulfill his role. The Targum version gives a more palatable insight on this problematic scenario: “And the kinsman said, ‘on this ground I cannot redeem it, because I have a wife already; and I have no desire to take another, lest there should be contention in my house, and I should become a corrupter of my inheritance. Do thou redeem it, for thou hast no wife; for I cannot redeem it.’”

The unnamed man’s response seems reasonable: he wanted to maintain the safety of his family. Unfortunately, this stance was contrary to the law of Moses. “If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her” (Deuteronomy 25:5).

This man’s eagerness to purchase the land in Ruth 4:4 was in stark contrast to his immediate disinterest when he realized the risk to his estate. Boaz, however, is shown to have both respected and loved Ruth. He was not bothered by the fact that his firstborn with Ruth would belong to Elimelek's lineage or the descendants would share his inheritance. This is an excellent example of what Paul describes as Jesus’ calling for each of us: “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love” (Galatians 5:13).

John Maxwell, author of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, writes, “The life of a leader can look glamorous to people on the outside. But the reality is that leadership requires sacrifice.” When stress escalates, we often revert to self-preservation; however, Christ’s restoring power calls us to live above our instincts and feelings. As we strive against our natural inclinations, the benefits and blessings reach far past us into the lives of many.

Tsholo Sebetlela Pastor/Chaplain — Maskwacis